Ilocano, Iloco or Iluko is the main language of the Northern Philippines. According to the 2005 Census, there are about 8 million people who speak Ilocano as a mother tongue (locally called kabakketan a dildila) and still another 2 million who speak it as a second language. Although it has no official status in the country, those who use it often call it the National Language of the North. From their traditional homeland (the Ilocandia), Ilocanos have migrated southward, now forming large communities in Central Luzon, Metropolitan Manila and even in the main Urban centres of General Santos City and Zamboanga City in the Island of Mindanao.

There are also a sizable number of Ilocano speakers in the United States, especially in Hawaii, California, Alaska and Washington, as the Ilocanos were the first Filipinos to migrate en masse to the US. Speakers of this language are also found in Canada, Saudi Arabia, the United Kingdom and Australia.

Belonging to the Austronesian family of languages, it is related to all the other languages in the Philippines like the larger Tagalog and Cebuano. It is also distantly related to Malagasy, Malay, Tetum, Hawaiian and other Polynesian languages.

Alagadan or Grammar

Ilocano is an agglutinative language. Meaning, it employs a number of affixes to signify changes in meaning. If you are having a hard time looking for a word in the dictionary, try dropping the following suffixes:

--ak or -k

I or my

--tayo

we or our

--mo

you or your (singular)

--yo

you or your (plural)

--na

his, her or its

--da

their

--en or -n

already

Pronunciation guide

Like all its sister languages, Ilocano is fairly easy to pronounce. And although there are two orthographic systems that are in common use, the one based on Tagalog is more commonly found in publications. The general rule is one sound for each letter. However, the language, like all the Borneo-Philippine Languages, employ the digraph ng to represent an initial velar nasal consonant (the ng in English sing).

Accents are very unpredictable and must be learnt while learning the new word. Although books about the language will show these signs, they are often not found in publications like newspapers.

Vowels

The Ilocano language has either five or six vowels, depending on what dialect you choose to speak. The language is generally divided into the Amianan (Northern) and Abagatan (Southern) Dialects. The only difference however between these two dialects is the way they pronounce the letter 'E'. In the Abagatan Dialect, only five vowels are present and they are pronounced as follows:

a

open front unrounded vowel IPA [a]; like the a in father

e

open-mid front unrounded vowel IPA [ɛ]; like the e in bed

i

close front unrounded vowel IPA [i]; like the ea in beat

o

close-mid back rounded vowel IPA [o]; like the au in author

u

close back rounded vowel IPA [u]; like the oo in boot

On the other hand, the Amianan Dialect has another vowel for the symbol 'e'. For the speakers of the Abagatan Dialect, the 'e' that was given above is used for words of foreign origin (e.g. elepante from Spanish). For native words, the sound of a close back unrounded vowel is used. There is no equivalent for this sound in English so some dictionaries use the IPA symbol for the schwa sign. But the proper symbol must be:

e

close back unrounded vowel IPA [ɯ]; like the ao in the Scots Gaelic caol.

Historically, Ilocano has only 3 vowels and this reality is still evident until today as the sounds of e and i and o and u' often merges.

When the letter i precedes another letter, its sound will glide resulting to the sound of [j]. This happens also to the letter u where it glides into the sound of [w].

Spanish cities such as Vigan were in contact with Spanish, hence, the additional open-mid front unrounded vowel "e".

Consonants

In modern written Ilocano (based on Tagalog Ortography), there are 16 symbols for the consonants but there are more than 16 consonant sounds in the language. Here, we include the other letters that may likely occur in some prints.

b

like the English bed

c

like the k in sky not as in kite

d

like the d in the Japanese dojo

f

(in proper nouns only) like the English feather

g

like the English go

g

(in foreign words from Spanish only) like the English house

h

like the English house

j

(in foreign words from Spanish only) like the English house

k

like the k in sky not as in kite

l

like the l in London

m

like the m in mother

n

like the n in nanny

p

like the p in spot not as in pot

qu

like the k in sky not as in kite

r

like the r in right

r

(in foreign words from Spanish only) like the r in rojo

s

like the s in seven

t

like the d in the Chinese Dao De Jing

v

like the English bed

v

(in proper nouns only) like the v in vase

w

like the w in water

x

(in proper nouns only) like the x in six

x

(in proper nouns only) like the x in the Spanish Mexico

y

like the y in yam

z

like the s in seven

z

like the z in zebra

Some consonants change their sounds when followed by a vowel. The following sounds are produced:

di

like the j in jack

si

like the sh in shampoo

ti

like the ch in church

As mentioned above the digraph ng represents the sound of the same digraph in Singer. However, unlike in English, this sound may be used as initial.

The initial glottal stop is not written. Thus, it appears as if the word commences with a vowel. When it occurs at the middle of the word, a hypen (-) is inserted to represent the sound.

Common diphthongs

There are only three commonly used diphthongs in the Ilocano language. They are as follows:

ay

like the i in high

iw

like the iw in Tiw

oy

like the oy in boy

Other diphthongs are also likely to occur but they are generally from loaned words. They are usually pronounced as they are foreign.

Phrase list

Basics

Hello.

(There is actually no equivalent for this greeting. Instead, Ilocanos tend to greet in terms of time or by asking how are you.)

How are you?

Kumusta ka? (koo-mooss-tah KAH?)

Fine, thank you.

Naimbag nak met, agyamanak! (nah-eem-BAHG nahck muht, ahg-yah-mah-NAHCK)

What is your name?

Ania ti naganmo? (often contracted ania't naganmo?) It is also "Ana't nagan mo?"

My name is ______ .

______ ti naganko or siak ni ______. (or more formally although not usually used Ti naganko ket _____ . Note: Ilocanos tend to simply give their names.)

Nice to meet you.

Naragsakak a maam-ammoka. (nah-rahg-SAH-kahk ah mah-ahm-ahm-moo-KAH)

Please.

Pangngaasi . ( )

Thank you.

Agyamanak. ( )

You're welcome.

Awan ti anyaman na. (coll. Awan t'anyaman na.)

Take care

Agaluad ka or Agannad ka

Yes.

Wen.

No.

Saan. (in the Abagatan Dialect Haan)

Excuse me. (getting attention)

Pakawanen-nak. [also Excuse me. (Ilocanos don't usually use the native term anymore.)]

Excuse me. (begging pardon)

Dispensar.

I'm sorry.

Pakawanen nak. (also Dispensaren nak)

Goodbye

Agpakadaakon. (also Kastan or kasta pay lit. Till then.)

Goodbye (informal)

Innakon. (lit. I am going. )

I can't speak Ilocano.

Diak agsasao ti ??????. (meaning: The speaker has no knowledge of Ilocano.)

I can't speak Ilocano well.

Diak nalaing iti or diak unay amo agsao iti ??????. (meaning: The speaker has a knowledge of Ilocano but not with enough competence.)

Do you speak English?

Agsasao ka iti Inggles? ( ?)

Is there someone here who speaks English?

Adda kadi tattao nga agsasao ti Inggles? ( ?)

Help!

Tulong!

Look out!

Agan-nad! (or Agan-nad ka!)

Good morning.

Naimbag a bigat.

Good afternoon

Naimbag a malem.

Good evening.

Naimbag a rabii.

Good night.

Naimbag a rabii. (Note: Ilocano has actually no equivalent words to express this sentence.)

Good night (to sleep)

. ( )

I don't understand.

Diak maawatan. (also Diak matarusan )

Where is the toilet?

Ayan-na ti banio?

Problems

Leave me alone.

Ibatidak! (or: Ibatinak!)

Don't touch me.

Dinak ig-igaman.

I'll call the police!

Agayabak ti pulis!

Stop! Thief!

Esardeng! Agtatakaw!

I need your help.

Masapulko ti tulong mo. (or when talking to many people: Masapulko ti tulong yo!)

I am lost.

Napukawak! (also: Na-iyaw-awan nak!)

I lost my bag.

Mapukaw ti bag ko.

I lost my wallet.

Mapukaw ti petakak.

I am sick.

agsakitak (Note: Filipinos generally equate this sentence with I have a fever. To say this, it is more proper to say, ag-gurigurak)

I met an accident.

Naaksidente ak!

I need a doctor.

Masapulko ti doktor.

Numbers

There exist two names for the numbers in Ilocano. The native Ilocano and the Spanish names. Generally, Ilocanos use the Spanish terms if they are talking about time of very large quantities. You will however see the native terms if you would read literary books. If you are going on a shopping, prices of small values are given in this form.

Cardinal Numbers.

0

awan or sero

1

maysa

2

dua

3

tallo

4

uppat

5

lima

6

innem

7

pito

8

walo

9

siam

10

sangapulo

11

sangapulo ket maysa

12

sangapulo ket dua

13

sangapulo ket tallo

14

sangapulo ket uppat

15

sangapulo ket lima

20

duapulo

30

tallopulo

40

uppat a pulo

50

limapulo

60

innem a pulo

70

pitopulo

80

walo a pulo

90

siam a pulo

100

sangagasut

101

sangagasut ket maysa

150

sangagasut ket limapulo

151

sangagasut ket limapulo ket maysa

200

duagasut

300

tallogasut

400

uppatgasut

500

limagasut

1000

sangaribu

10000

sangariwriw

100000

sangabillion

Time

Telling the time is rather complicated in Ilocano. People use a combination of the Spanish system and the native style of telling time. However, even the Spanish system has changed that those who has learnt how to tell time in Spanish may not understant it quite easily. Here are some phrases:

Clock Time

Ilocanos use the 12hr clock. So, no more to learn Spanish number beyond that (for time only).

0000

a las dose iti tenggat rabii (may also be: Maika-sangapulu ket duwa iti tenggat rabii)

0100

a la una iti bigat (also: maika-maysa iti bigat)

0200

a las dos iti bigat (also: maika-dua iti bigat)

0300

a las tres iti bigat (also: maika-tallo iti bigat)

0400

a las kwatro iti bigat (also: maika-uppat iti bigat)

0500

a las singko iti bigat (also: maika-lima iti bigat)

0600

a las sais iti bigat (also: maika-innem iti bigat)

0700

a las siete iti bigat (also: maika-pito iti bigat)

0800

a las otso iti bigat (also: maika-walo iti bigat)

0900

a las nuebe iti bigat (also: maika-siam iti bigat)

1000

a las dies iti bigat (also: maika-sangapulu iti bigat)

1100

a las onse iti bigat (also: maika-sangapulu ket maysa iti bigat)

1200

a las dose iti tenggat adlaw(also: maika-sangapulu ket duwa iti tenggat adlaw)

1300

a la una iti malem(also: maika-maysa iti malem)

1400

a las dos iti malem (also: maika-dua iti malem)

1500

a las tres iti malem (also: maika-tallo iti malem)

1600

a las kwatro iti malem (also: maika-uppat iti malem)

1700

a las singko iti malem (also: maika-lima iti malem)

1800

a las sais iti rabii(also: maika-innem iti rabii)

1900

a las siete iti rabii (also: maika-pito iti rabii)

2000

a las otso iti rabii (also: maika-walo iti rabii)

2100

a las nuebe iti rabii (also: maika-siam iti rabii)

2200

a las dies iti rabii (also: maika-sangapulu iti rabii)

2300

a las onse iti rabii (also: maika-sangapulu ket maysa iti rabii)

To say half-past an hour or a quarter of an hour, we may use the Spanish system or:

Half-past one

Maika-maysa ket kagadua

Quarter past one

Maika-maysa ket sangapulu key lima

Adverbs of Time

now

Tatta

later

madamdama

before

sakbay

after

kalpasan

morning

bigat

this morning

ita bigat

noon

tenggaat adlaw

afternoon

malem

evening

malem

night

rabii

today

ita nga adlaw

yesterday

idi kalman

the day before yesterday

idi sakbay kalman

tomorrow

inton bigat

the day after tomorrow

sumaruno a bigat

this week

ita lawas

next week

sakbay a lawas

Duration

seconds

segundo

minutes

minuto

hours

oras

day

aldaw

week

lawas

month

bulan

year

tawen

Days

Days of the Week (Adlaw iti Lawas) follow their corresponding Spanish counterparts:

Domingo

Sunday

Lunes

Monday

Martes

Tuesday

Mierkoles

Wednesday

Juebes

Thursday

Biernes

Friday

Sabado

Saturday

Months

Months of the year (dagiti Bulan iti Tawen) follows the names of their Spanish counterparts:

January

Enero

February

Febrero

March

Marso

April

Abril

May

Mayo

June

Junio

July

Julio

August

Agosto

September

Setiembre

October

Octubre

November

Noviembre

December

Disiembre

Writing time and date

Once we have learnt how to say time and date, writing them is very simple. In writing the date, one generally gives the day first, followed by the month and the year. If we have to indicate the time, it follows after the date.

07 March 1983 at 2245

Maika-pito iti Marso 1983 iti maika-sangapulu ket uppat a pulu ket lima iti rabii.

Colours

blue

asul

red

baga (or as an adj. nalabaga or nalabbasit)

yellow

duyaw

green

berde (or more poetically nalangto)

orange

kahel (or simple orange)

violet

violet

black

nangisit

white

puraw

brown

kayumanggi

grey

dapo

Note: As adjectives may be places at either sides of the noun, one must not forget the ligature nga (if the next word begins with a vowel) or a (if the next word begins with a consonant) to establish the connection.

Sample: yellow dress may be rendered as bado a duyaw or duyaw a bado.

Transportation

Like the rest of the Philippines, busses and taxis are not the primary mode of transportation in Ilocandia (i.e. the Northern Philippines). For short distances, the tricycles remain to be the most available form of transportation. For average distance travels, the modified Filipino jeep will be the best way to navigate the area. Indeed, these jeepneys dominate the streets of the Philippines that they are often called The King of the Streets throughout the archipelago. Busses and trains are only used for very long distances.

Tricycles and Jeepneys

How much is the fare to name of the place?

Manu ti plete inggana idiay name of the place? (Literally: How much to the name of the place.)

How many people can take a ride?

Manu nga tao ti mabalin nga sumakay?

Stop!

Para! (This is used only for modes of transportation and never for people.)

Bus and Train

How much is the ticket for name of the place?

Manu ti ticket nga mapan idiay name of the place?

I'll take one ticket.

Mangalaak ti maysa nga tiket

Where does this bus/ train go to?

Papanan na datoy bus/ tren? (Note: Busses in the Philippines tend to have signboards so you won't be needing to ask this question frequently.)

Does this bus/ train stop at name of the place?

Agsardeng kadi datoy bus/ tren idiay name of the place?

What time does this bus/ train leaves?

Kaatno nga pumanaw datoy bus/ tren? (also: Anya oras nga pumanaw datoy bus/ tren? lit. What time does this bus/ train leave?)

What time does this bus/ train arrive at name of the place?

Kaatno nga sumangpet datoy bus/ tren idiay name of the place? (also: Ania oras nga sumangpet 'toy bus/ tren idiay name of the place?)

Directions

Excuse me sir, how do I go to name of the place?

Excuse me Manong, kasano ti mapan idiay name of the place?

_____ bus station

_____ estasyon ti bus

_____ airport

_____ airport

_____ market

_____ palengke

_____ town proper

_____ ili

_____ American (Australian, British, Canadian) Consulate

Konsulado ti Amerika (Australia, Britania, Canada) [note: There is actually no Embassy or Consulate in the Ilocandia as almost all of them are in Metro Manila.]

Where are there many _____?

Ayanna nga lugar ti adu ti _____?

_____ hotels

_____ hotel

_____ restaurants

_____ restaurant (note: When visitng the Philippines, a foreigner might want to eat at the Philippine cafetiria called carinderia.)

_____ bars

_____ bar

_____ sights to see

_____ mabuya

Can you show me in the map?

Mabalin nga pakitam kaniak ayanna idiay mapa?

street

kalye (also dalan)

You turn left.

Kumannigidka.

You turn right.

Kumannawka.

You go straight ahead.

Lumintegka.

Near the name of the place

Asideg iti name of the place

Before the name of the place

Sakbay iti name of the place

After the name of the place

Kalpasan iti name of the place

Intersection

Rotonda

North

Amianan

East

Daya

South

Abagatan

West

Laud

North-West

Amianan nga Laud

North-East

Amianan nga Daya

South-West

Abagatan nga Laud

South-East

Abagatan nga Daya

Lodging

Do you have an available room?

Adda pay ti kwarto yo?

How much is a single room?

Manu ti kwarto para maysa nga tao?

How much is a room for two/ three people?

Manu ti kwarto para dua/ tallo nga tao?

Is a __________ included in the room?

Adda ti __________ idiay kwarto?

blanket

ules

bathroom

banio

telephone

telepono

television

telebisyon (or simply TV)

May I see the room?

Mabalin nga makitak diay kwarto?

Do you have any room that is more quiet?

Adda ti kwartoyo nga naul-ulimek?

bigger

dakdakkel

cleaner

nadaldalus

cheaper

nalaklaka

I'll stay for one/ two nights.

Agyanak ti maysa/ dua anga rabii.

Can you suggest another place?

Adda ammum nga sabali nga lugar?

Do you have a safe?

Adda ti safeboxyo?

Do you have a locker?

Adda ti lockeryo?

Please clean my room.

Pakidalus man toy kwartok.

Can you wake me up at time?

Mabalin nga riingen nak titime?

I am going to check out.

Ag-check-outak.

Money

Do you accept American Dollars?

Ag-alakayo ti Dolar nga Amerikano?

How much is a dollar here?

Manu ti maysa a dollar idtoy?

Do you accept credit cards?

Ag-alakayo ti credit card?

Is there an ATM here?

Adda ti ATM idtoy?

Eating

A table for one/ two person, please.

Maysa a mesa para maysa/ dua a tao, please.

Can I see the menu?

Mabalin a makitak ti menu?

What is the your specialty?

Ania ti specialty-yo?

I am vegetarian.

Vegetarianak.

I don't eat pork.

Diak mangan ti baboy.

I don't eat beef.

Diak mangan ti baka.

chicken

manok

pork

baboy

beef

baka

fish

ikan (or sida)

ham

ham

sausage

longganisa

cheese

keso

egg

itlog

salad

salad

vegetables

nateng

fruits

prutas

bread

pan

noodles

pancit (if there is broth soup mami)

rice

kanen

May I have a glass of water please.

Maysa a baso ti danom. Please.

Bars

Do have you wine/liqueur?

Adda ti arakyo?

One/ Two bottle/s of beer, please.

Maysa/ Dua a bote ti beer, please.

Water

Danom

Food

Tarangen

Coffee

Kape

Milk

Gatas

Chocolate

Tsokolate

Another one, please.

Maysa pay, please.

What time do you close?

Ania ti oras nga agrikepkayo?

Shopping

Do you have something bigger/ smaller?

Adda dakdakkel/ basbassit?

Expensive

nangina

Cheap

nalaka

I don't wan't it.

Diak kayat.

I'll take it.

Alaekon.

I need _____ .

Masapulko ti _____.

toothpaste

toothpaste

toothbrush

sepilyo

condom

kondom

sanitary napkin

napkin

soap

sabon

shampoo

siampo

razor

labahas

umbrella

payong

post card

post card

stamps

selyo para iti surat

battery

bateria

paper

papel

pen

bolpen

English Book

libro nga Inggles

English Magazine

Magasine nga Inggles

English Newspaper

Diario nga Inggles

English-Ilocano Dictionary

Diksyonario nga Inggles

Driving

I want to rent a car.

Kayatko nga agrenta ti kotse.

Can I get an insurance?

Mabalin nga ag-ala-ak ti insurance?

Stop!

Sardeng!

gasoline

gasolina

Note: As Ilocano enjoys no official status in the Philippines, no street sign is written in the language. Street signs and even public notices are posted in English.

Authority

What's the problem, Sir?

Ania ti problema, Manong?

Where are you taking me?

Sadino ti pangipanam kaniak?

I am an American Citizen.

Amerkanoak.

I need a lawyer.

Masapul ko ti abugado.

Can I pay the fine here?

Mabalin nga agbayadak ti multa ditoy?

President

Presidente

Vice-President

Vice Presidente

Secretary of the Cabinet

Secretario ti Gabinete

Senator

Senador

Representative

Diputado

Judge

Huwes

Police

Pulis

Soldier

Soldado

Asking about language

How do I say English Word in Ilocano?

Kasano sabien ti English Word iti Ilocano?

Interrogative words

What

Ania

Who

Asino or siasino

Where

Ayanna

When

Kaano or katno

Why

Apay

How

Kasano (used when you expect an adverb manner as an answer)

How much?

Manu

How many?

Manu

How long?

Kasatno kabayag?

How big?

Kasatno kadakkel?